The death of an inmate at Mt Eden Prison is not considered suspicious, the Department of Corrections says.
Photo: RNZ / Diego Opatowski
A spokesperson for the department said the prisoner was admitted to hospital last Friday after harming himself, and died on Monday night.
The death has been referred to the Coroner, and Corrections is also investigating.
The prison has been under scrutiny this year after allegations of assault, fight clubs and contraband, and the death of an inmate who had been transferred from the prison.
The Department of Corrections announced earlier this month that its contract with the prison's private operator Serco would end in 2017, four years shy of its 10-year term.
Corrections has been managing Mt Eden since it invoked a step-in clause in the contract in July.
An investigation by the prison inspectorate into the allegations at the prison has been completed but its release has been delayed because of a court challenge by Serco.